rhumpheey



' May 30, 1933- R. P. HUMPHRY CORN POPPING KETTLE Filed April ll, 1932 1f 5;. 3f /wm' [III ATTORNEY.

Patented May 39, 1933 UNET STATE n RALPH P. HUMPHREY, Ol KANSAS CETY, JVLVISS'U'RI CORN rorrrns KETTLE Application filed April 11,

This invention relates to kettles and more particularly to one for popping corn, and has for its principal object to provide a kettle structure employing a detachable corn pop- '5 ping apparatus whereby the kettle portion of the device may be used for any household purpose independent of the popping attachment.

Other important objects of the invention l are to provide a device for cooking any of the foods that require stirring, to provide a popping attachment that is quickly applied and-easily detached from the kettle without defacing or marring the kettle in any manner, and without adding attachment devices which will be in the way when the kettle portion of the device is used individually.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a lid structure which is retained securely in position during the stirring operation and in which the agitating device may be operated in either direction. i

AFurther objects of the invention are to provide a lid construction that prevents hot i grease or heat from annoying or burning the cperator, and to provide a hinged portion that opens freely when the kettle is inverted to empty the contents. Another object of the invention is to provide a kettle construction which pops both greased and sugared popcorn.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of i '35 which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a kettle equipped with a pop corn attachment constructed in accordance with my invention, a

` '40 part of the kettle wall being broken away to better illustrate the corn agitating mechanism. i

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section through the kettle illustrating the hinged portion of the lid in open position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail perspective view through the upper rim of the kettle andl adjacent portion of the lid illustrating one of the ears which cooperates with the latch mechanism in retaining the lid.

1932. serial No. 604,536.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the latch for securing the lid to the kettle rim.

Fig. is a detail perspective view of the under portion of the lid, particularly illus- Jrating the attachment ears and latch memer. Referring more in detail to the draw- 1ng:-

1 designates a kettle having a substantially flat bottom 2 and an upwardly and outwardly diverging side Wall 8 terminating in an annular beaded flange' or rim 4. The side wall 3 is provided with the usual'handle 5 by which the kettle may he lifted or held in position while the agitating mecha-- nlsm is being operated, as later described.

The kettle thus far described, except for the 'inclined wall A3, is of ordinary construction and may be used for any lhousehold purpose independent of the popping attachment now described, and vwhich constitutes the principal feature lof the present invention.V v

The popping attachment includes a flat disk-shaped lid`6 having slightly larger di` ameter than the upper diameter of the wall, in order that it may be supported by, and slightly overlap, the rim 4 to close the open top' of the kettle. The lid comprises two sections oiningon a chord extending across Vthe ,lidv at a point spacedl from the center thereof to provide a fixed cover section 7 and a hinge section .8, respectively.

The vfixed section 7 is provided with a depending ear 9 formed onthe Outeredge thereof adjacent the juncture of the sections Vand an ear 10 spaced 90 therefrom and at a point substantially .opposite and midway of the chord on which the sections join.

' The ears 9 and 10 each include a lug 11 having an inwardly facing arcuate seatportion 12 yforming a hook adapted to engage under and over the face of the rimf4, as bestillustrated in Fig. 3. Also formed on the fixed portion of the disk at the side directly opposite to the ear 9 is an extending bifurcated portion lto provide a notch 14 extending inwardly and parallel to the juncture of the sections for guiding the latch member later described.

Extending from the upper face of the fixed section 7 at points adjacent the juncture thereof are tongues 15 and 16 having 10 cated thereon so that the outer faces ofthe tongues 19 and 20. overlap the inner `faces of the tongues 15 and 16, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The tongues 19 and 20 are provided with lateral extensions 21 having openings 22 ,aligning with .the openings .17 in the :complementary tongues to accommodate .the hinge rod 18 by which the sectionS ishinged. The ,tongues 19 .and ,20, being .loca-ted. adj acent the .inner v.faces ofthe coinplementaiy tongues 15 and .16, preventlateral shifting of the hinge section relatively to the fixed section. The .hinge section isalso zpreferably provided with a knob 23 by which it.may be-movedto openposition for insertingfthe corn or other material `into thekettle. The .abutting .edges fof thesections are ,formed lonopposite.bevelsso that the edge of the hinge.sectionoverlaps'the edge of the fixed .section fto gprovide sa `relatively .tight j oint. The rod .18 .forms V.an `important p-artof the .present .invention A as .it .not yonly vhinges the :section '8,' but .is also .constructed .to cooperate with :the ears 9 and 10 Atoanchor itheffixedjportionof thelid, as now described. 'The .rod18 extends beyond .the :tongue .1.6 and 'is .provided with .a downwardly .oii'set portion .24 which moves :insliding contact with the upper face of the fixed section 17, .and .is of sufficient .length to .extend beyond the .rim ofthe kettle .and overthe notch .14. @Formedon theterminal of the offset extension is .adepending hooked portion 25 ,operating in @the notch 14 .previously .described .to .latch `undertherim .of the kettle, as best'illustratedin Fig. 4. 'The'.term'inal of the hookportion 25is'provi`cled with an arcuatelyand laterally vextending shoe .portion 27 adapted'toengage under the rim ofthe kettle and lagainstthearcuate face ofthe .wall :3 to 'prevent rotation oftherrodfin'thefhinge tongues when'the hookportionisin clamp- 'ingposition The arcuate shoeportion27 is preferably of sufici-ent'length so that the distanceV between theterminal thereof and the ear 9-is shorterth'an the diameter. of the'lkettle to prevent laterah displacement of! the li'd in the directionoffthe ear 10.

It-iis thus y*apparent that the :lixed portion of the lid isgripped v,to-the inn of the=kettle at three .pointsa'boutits periphery with the terminal ofthe :arcuate portion 27,'and the ear- 9 lying on-a chord extendingsubstantially at right ang-les to -a diameter of `the lidextendingfthroughthe ear-10fso thatithe-lideis .the .iim 4 .to free .theears lateral shifting oftlie'lid.

vin ,.Fig. .1.

It is thus apparent that the tension of the spring retains the hook-shaped portion of the rod within the notch 14 and the arcuateshaped portion inlatching engagement with .the ,rim of .the .kettle VUien .it `is desired ,to remove .the lid, .the

`rodmay be shifted `longitudinallyLbyapplyving pressure ofthe f thumbagainst the. abut- ,ment member 29-to .inovefthehook end ofthe Vrod including -the arcuatershaped .latch .r por- 'tion vthereof out of `engagement with the kettle, so that'thelatch may be'lifted over 9 and ,10 upon In ord-.er toprovidethelid with a stirring rinechanism, the iixedifportioirthereof lispro- .vided 'inthe axis ofthelid with anupwardly extending lboss l 30 having. an `axial opening 31 .for rotatably .mounting a vertical shaft 32. 'The actuating shaft is of sufficient length .to `extend. from Athe bottom 'of .the kettle-.upwardly through theboss. a-sufiicient distanceto accommodate acrank handle 33.

Theliandle33 includesalhub .portion 34 having. an axial .opening .therethroug'lito ac' commodate the end4 ofi the; actuating. rod ,and is ,provided with a setscrew adapted to engageagainst. aflattenedface36 on thepro- `Qjecting .end `of `the .rod to lkey to vthe .crank thereto. lhe crank :includes a .radially eX- ;tending arm 37.carr.ying.a knobi38 by which the crank maybe rotated.tooperatethe shaft E-xtendingthrough .the lower .end of the shaft 32 at a point. spacedslightlyabove ,the

.bottonrof thekett-le'is ama-gitating rOId 39 for stirring land .agitating the corn as yit is being.poppedto.preventburning` 4Inorderto prevent lifting .ofthe agitating rod 39 from the bottom oftheikettle, .I

lprovide the actuating-shaft with a stopcolla'r 40. engaging underthe face of thel lid, as 'illus- .trated fn lFig. '2,.thestop collar being re- .tainedizr adj usted position'by a. set screw 41.

,If desired, .washers 42. and 43 may-beprovided between'the upper end of theboss'BO .andthe crank ,.and..betweeii the collar. andthe lower face ofthelid, as' illustrated in Fig. 2.

To use the vdevice in popping corn, the lid is i placed .over ,the top f of .the .kettle and the pivot. rod -l-Sisshifted-to allow the arcuate- `shaped-portion..of the latch topass overthe rim thereofrtodrawthe ears 9'.and,10.in,posi tion to cooperate .therewith 1in preventing shifting of the lid when the pressure against the rod is released.

In order to prevent rotation of the lid, the lug 9 is preferably located in abutting relation with the side of the handle 5 in the direction of rotation of the agitating crank.

The agitating mechanism, being carriedby the fixed portion of the lid, is then in position to stil` the corn. The corn, grease and salt are poured into the kettle through the arcuate-shaped opening closed by the hingesection 8. When the hinge section 8 is closed, the kettle is sufficiently tight to prevent escape of grease vapor and heat during popping the corn. The corn may be agitated by rotating the handle in either direction to prevent burning thereof and to thoroughly mix the grease therewith.

After the corn is popped, the kettle may be lifted and turned bottom side up, which effects automatic opening of the hinge portion of the lid to allow emptying of the corn, the weight of the lid being sufficient to allow free opening thereof.

Then the device is used in making sugared corn, the lid may be readily opened to apply the sugar at the proper time without danger of burning the operator.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I have provided a lid construction which is firmly anchored in position without altering or defacing the kettle, and that the cover fits suiiiciently tight to prevent escape of grease and heat used in popping the corn.

I/Vhen the corn popping attachment for the kettle is removed, the parts, being all secured together, cannot become lost or misplaced, and the kettle may be used for any purpose for which an ordinary kettle is used. Attention is directed to the sloping walls of the kettle which allow space for the popped corn, and the inclined walls support much of it above and out of contact with the flat bottom of the kettle.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In combination with a kettle having a rim, a lid including a fixed section and movable section, means slidably mounted relatively to said sections for hinging the movable section to the fixed section, means on the fixed section for engaging said rim, latching means connected with said hinging means and movable thereby upon sliding movement of the hinging means for cooperating with said hinging means to secure the lid to the kettle.

2. In combination with a kettle having a rim, a lid including a fixed section and a movable section, complementary hinge members on the respective sections, a rod slidably mounted in said hinge members to hinge the movable section to the fixed section, means on the fixed section for engaging said rim, and latching means on said rod and movable by the rod in one direction to clear the rim, and

means connected with the'rod to retract the rod and retain the latching means in engagement with the kettle to cooperate with said engaging means to secure the lid to the kettle.

3. In combination with a kettle having a rim, a lid including a fixed section and a movable section, complementary hinge members on the respective sections, a rod extending through said hinge members to hinge the movable section to the fixed section, a hook member formed on the end of said rod and arranged to engage said rim, lugs on the fixed section cooperating with said hook to anchor the lid on the kettle, and yielding means forv retaining said hook in engagement with the rim of the kettle.

4. In combination with a kettle having a rim, a lid including a fixed section and a movable section, complementary hinge members on the respective sections, a rod extending through said hinge members to hinge the movable section to the fixed section, a hook `member formed on the end of said rod and arranged to engage said rim, lugs on the fixed movable section to the fixed section, lugs onv the fixed section for engaging said rim, a hook member formed on the end of said rod arranged to engage the rim, and a spring on said rod for retaining the hook in engaging position to cooperate with the lugs in securing the lid to the kettle.

6. In combination with a kettle having aV rim, a lid including a fixed section and a movable section, hinge members on the respective sections, a rod extending through said hinge members to hinge the movable section to the fixed section, lugs on the fixed section, a hook member formed on the end of the rod for engaging the rim, an arcuate-shaped terminal formed on the hook member to engagel the wall of the kettle, and means for retaining said hoo-k member and said arcuate-shaped terminal in engagement with the rim and wall of the kettle to cooperate with the lugs in securing the lid.

7. In combination with a kettle having a rim, a lid including a fixed Vsection and a movable sec-tion having a bevelled edge overlap- ,zand-:yielding means for; retaining: Said lhook Y in 1engagement :with said rim.

-8. In, combination within kettle, aldincludnga ',-Xed section anda-movable section, smeansifor l'lngng'the movablesecton to the fixed section includingimeans for ,clamping the .xed- Secation:t0:;the-1m, and'spring:tenfsonmeansf-engaging said hngngfmeans for @retaining theelamgping vmeans in clamping engagementwithzthe kettle.

v Jnztestmony .whereof l' arX my.- signature.

:RALPH fP. f'HUMPHREY. 

